Raptors, Bears and Bush with Mike "Coma" Reed

Welcome to this episode of the Lessons from the Cockpit show! Our conversation with Mike "Coma" Reed continues this week, telling us his story of integrating all the systems in the Lockheed F-22 Raptor, arguably the most lethal fighter jet in the world. Mike explains why the F-22 program and development performed so well and the F-35 program continues to have challenges.

Age and treachery will always overcome youth and exuberance as Mike relates an event with a Russian TU-95 Bear Bomber off the coast of South Korea.

Then-Vice President George H. W. Bush visited South Korea and F-4E Phantom IIs from Mike's 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron, The Flying Fiends, escorted the VP's plane into Osan Air Base Korea. Today the Flying Fiends continue to defend the Korean Peninsula from aggression from North Korea and China as a Cold War atmosphere increases in the Far East.

Prints of Mike's two F-4E Phantoms for the walls of your home or office can be purchased from our sponsor Wall Pilot at the following links:

https://wallpilot.com/product/f-4e-36th-tac-fighter-squadron-osan-korea/

https://wallpilot.com/product/3rd-tfs-f-4e-euro-ii-scheme/

To learn more about the Russian TU-95 Bear bomber:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-95

Enjoy the second hour of my interview with my boyhood buddy Mike Reed!